Hydrangea ‘SMNHPH’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘SMNHPH’ is disclosed, characterized by thick foliage, a compact plant habit and thick stems. Inflorescences mature to an attractive deep, rich pink. The new variety is a  Hydrangea , normally produced as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea paniculata.

Variety denomination: ‘SMNHPH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Hydrangea cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, at a commercial nursery in Grand Haven, Mich.The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Hydrangeavarieties with new habits and interesting colors. The crossing resultingin this new variety was made during July of 2013.

The seed parent is Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMNHPPINO’ U.S. Pat No. 27,302.The pollen parent is Hydrangea paniculata ‘Red Swan’, unpatented. Thenew variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection in theSummer of 2016, at a commercial greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SMNHPH’ by vegetative softwoodcuttings was first performed during the Summer of 2016, at a commercialgreenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. Subsequent asexual propagation hasshown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type in four successive generations. Date of firstsale was Jun. 23, 2020, occurring in the United States. This sale wasmade directly by the inventor or one who obtained the claimed inventiondirectly or indirectly from the inventor. This sale and all publicdisclosures made between Jun. 23, 2020 and the filing of thisapplication fall within the exception allowed under 102(b)(1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMNHPH’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SMNHPH’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SMNHPH’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeacultivar:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit.    -   2. Flowers age attractively to a rich, deep pink.    -   3. Thick, durable foliage.    -   4. Strong stems.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNHPH’ are similar to plants of the seedparent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar ‘SMNHPH’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has flowers which turn a richer red-pink in        the Fall, compared to the pale pink flower color of the seed        parent in the Fall.    -   2. The new variety has thicker, lighter green foliage than the        seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNHPH’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar ‘SMNHPH’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has flowers which stay white longer before        turning a rich red-pink; flowers of the pollen parent turn pink        earlier.    -   2. The new variety has larger flowers than the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNHPH’ can be compared to the varietyHydrangea paniculata ‘Jane’, U.S. Pat. No. 22,330. These varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘SMNHPH’ differsin the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has larger inflorescences than this        comparator.    -   2. Flowers of the new variety hold their color longer than this        comparator.    -   3. Stems of the new variety are stronger than stems of ‘Jane’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

‘SMNHPH’ is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show theplant's form, foliage, and inflorescences. The colors shown are as trueas can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new hybrid Hydrangea. Age of the plants photographedis between 2 to 3 years. All plants were container grown in Grand Haven,Mich. and photographed during 2020.

FIG. 1 shows plants of ‘SMNHMP’ grown outdoors in Grand Haven, Mich.during early Fall(second week of September). Plants have both white andpink flowers.

FIG. 2 shows the inflorescence color of the plants in FIG. 1approximately 10 days earlier, before the rich pink color forms.

FIG. 3 shows the early Summer(mid-July) color of a mature inflorescencecolor of a container-grown plant.

FIG. 4 shows the late Summer(late August) color of a maturinginflorescence, just beginning to change color of a container-grownplant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart 2015 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘SMNHPH’ plants grown in a commercial polygreenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. under natural lighting. Measurementswere taken during Summer of 2020. The plants were about 2.5 years old,growing in 3-gallon pots. The growing temperature ranged from 5° C. to27° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMNHPH’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 18 days at about 18° to 27° C.-   Time to produce a rooted young plant: Approximately 60 days at about    18° to 27° C.-   Propagation method: Softwood cuttings.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Flowering deciduous perennial shrub.-   Growth habit: Upward and outward.-   Overall plant shape: Upright, rounded, compact.-   Height: 68 cm.-   Plant spread: 97 cm.-   Growth rate: Good.-   Plant vigor: Moderate to vigorous.-   Branching habit: Upright, outward.-   Length of primary lateral branches: 55 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 5 mm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: 30 to 40.-   Stem:    -   -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Immature: RHS Grey-Brown N199C. Mature: RHS            Grey-Brown 199B.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Angle of attachment.—15° to 45°.-   Internode length: Average 3 cm.-   Root description: Moderately dense, thick main roots with fine,    fibrous secondary roots. Main roots colored near Brown 200D,    secondary roots near Yellow-White 158D.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Average length.—4.5 cm.        -   Average width.—3.75 cm.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Rough pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Leathery with distinct veins.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B. Young            foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Mature foliage            upper side: RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage under side: RHS            Yellow-Green 147D.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Pinnate. Color upper side: RHS            Yellow-Green 151C. Color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 145C.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: 7 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Petiole color            upper side: RHS Green 143C slightly flushed Green-Purple            183C. Petiole color lower side: RHS Green 143C. Petiole            Texture upper side: Smooth. Petiole Texture lower side:            Slightly pubescent.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Summer until Fall.-   Inflorescence:-   Panicle:    -   -   Shape.—Very broad deltate.        -   Height.—13 cm.        -   Diameter.—11 cm.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Fertile flowers:            About 100. Sterile flowers: 200 to 500.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent, self-cleaning after            several weeks.        -   Longevity.—Individual flowers stay fresh on the plant for            about 2 weeks. Inflorescences are ornamental for several            weeks.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.-   Sterile flower:    -   -   Bud shape.—Globose.        -   Bud length.—2 mm.        -   Bud diameter.—2 mm.        -   Bud color.—RHS Green-White 157C.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward.        -   Flower length.—5 mm.        -   Flower Diameter.—5 mm.        -   Flower shape.—Cruciform.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.-   Sterile flower petals:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—Cruciform.        -   Quantity.—4.        -   Length of petal.—2 mm.        -   Width of petal.—1 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Shape of petal.—Narrow deltate.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal base.—Obtuse.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth, upper and under side.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: RHS Green-White 157D.            Under surface at first opening: RHS Green-White 157D. Upper            surface at maturity: RHS Green-White 157D. Under surface at            maturity: RHS Green-White 157D.-   Sterile flower sepal:    -   -   Arrangement.—Cruciform.        -   Number.—4.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Tip.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—1 cm.        -   Width.—9 mm.        -   Texture, upper.—Smooth.        -   Texture, lower.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: RHS Green-White 157D.            Under surface at first opening: RHS Green-White 157D. Upper            surface at maturity: RHS White 155A. Late Summer strongly            flushed 61B. Maturing to have a flush near Greyed-Purple 186            and 186D. Under surface at maturity: RHS White 155A. Late            Summer strongly flushed 59D. Maturing to have a flush near            Red-Purple 63B. Upper surface, at most mature: RHS            Greyed-Purple 186 and 186D. Under surface, at most mature:            RHS Greyed-Purple 186 and 186D.-   Sterile flower pedicel:    -   -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—1 mm.        -   Angle.—90-130°.        -   Strength.—Flexible.        -   Texture.—Some pubescence.        -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Green 193C.-   Fertile flower:    -   -   Shape.—Rotate.        -   Depth.—5 mm.        -   Diameter.—7 mm.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward.        -   Persistence.—Self-Cleaning.        -   Longevity.—1-2 weeks.        -   Bud shape.—Orbicular.        -   Bud length.—3 mm.        -   Bud diameter.—3 mm.        -   Bud texture.—Glabrous.        -   Bud color.—RHS Green-White 157C.-   Fertile flower petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate to cruciform.        -   Quantity.—4.        -   Length of petal.—3 mm.        -   Width of petal.—2 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Shape of petal.—Elliptic.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal base.—Truncate.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth, upper and under side.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: RHS White 155C. Under            surface at first opening: RHS White 155C. Upper surface at            maturity: RHS White 155C. Under surface at maturity: RHS            White 155C.-   Fertile flower sepal:    -   -   Arrangement.—Cruciform.        -   Quantity.—4.        -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Shape.—Orbicular.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Texture.—Smooth, upper and under side.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: RHS Yellow-Green            145C. Under surface at first opening: RHS Yellow-Green 145C.            Upper surface at maturity: RHS Yellow-Green 145C. Under            surface at maturity: RHS Yellow-Green 145C.-   Fertile flower pedicel:    -   -   Angle.—90° to 130°.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Length.—5 mm.        -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Texture.—Slight pubescence.        -   Color.—RHS White 155C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Sterile flowers androecium: Present.-   Stamens: 6 to 0 mm, Inconspicuous, about 1 mm.-   Filament: Colored near White NN155A.-   Anthers: Less than 1 mm long, colored near White NN155A.-   Sterile flowers gynoecium: Not present.-   Fertile flowers:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—8.        -   Filament length.—3 mm.        -   Filament color.—RHS White 155C.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Globular.        -   Length.—<1 mm.        -   Color.—RHS White 155C.        -   Pollen color.—RHS White 155c.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Style.—Length: About 0.5 mm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Lobed. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: None observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Hydrangea have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: USDA Zones 3 to 9.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plantnamed ‘SMNHPH’ as herein illustrated and described.